Shelliscape extended her unbeaten streak to four as she set a new stakes record in the Whenuwishuponastar Stakes final Thursday night at Mohawk
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Driven by Randy Waples, the Artiscape miss was in no hurry in the early going as Big Mcdeal led past the opening quarter in :27.3. My Gal Mattie was well positioned in the pocket ahead of Shes Astronomical. Heading towards the mid-way point, Angel Scent moved to the outside from fourth and took over command past the half in a :56-second clip.
As the rookie pacers raced into the far turn, post time favourite Shelliscape angled to the outside from sixth and began the first-over attack. Angel Scent led past three-quarters in 1:25.1 with Shelliscape stalking on the outside and Big Mcdeal looking for racing room from the pocket. At the top of the stretch, Waples asked his charge for more pace and the Bob McIntosh trainee responded with a :26.3 final quarter en route to the 1:52 decision. Big Mcdeal finished second, with Angel Scent fading to third.
“There is always a chance you’re going to catch cover,” Waples said. “I didn’t want to get into a speed match with her. I haven’t driven her too fast from the start, because she’s more than capable of coming from behind. I was hoping to get one horse out in front of me, but it didn’t work out that way."
Waples was also quick to comment on the maturity of the young filly, who was making just her fourth career start.
“She’s very mature and just a pleasure to drive,” he said. “She was well within herself tonight. She does her job and it’s not difficult on me because she comes out of the McIntosh barn and all his horses are just pleasures to drive.”
Shelliscape lifted her lifetime earnings to $52,000 for the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, CSX Stables and DM Stables LLC.
In the very next race, Peach Martini equaled her career best clocking of 1:55 in the lone OSS Gold elimination for three-year-old trotting fillies.
Magic Wheel left aggressively from post six to lead past the opening panel in :27.1, while Peach Martini and trainer/driver Rick Zeron were well spotted in the two-hole. Zeron wasn’t content in the two-hole, so he angled Peach Martini to the outside and took charge before the half in :57.2. Lukes Sophie began the first-over attack from fourth, with tracking her.
As Peach Martini passed three-quarters in 1:26.2, Lukes Sophie was in contention on the outside and Magic Wheel was stalking in the pocket. Down the stretch, Zeron urged on the daughter of Striking Sahbra and she responded en route to scoring by three-quarters of a length over Magic Wheel, with Lukes Sophie finishing third.
Peach Martini, who is owned by Rick Zeron Stables, Rojan Stables, Michael Katz and Stephen Waldman, pushed her lifetime earnings to $501,927 with the win.
With the scratch of China Pearls from Thursday’s elimination, all 10 starters earned a berth to next Thursday’s final.
Here’s how they’ll line up behind the starting gate:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final
1. Eagle Canada
2. Lukes Sophie
3. Magic Wheel
4. Peach Martini
5. Shez So Striking
6. Mystic Allure
7. Ally Oop
8. First Flower
9. Youlneverwalkalone
10. Oh Sweet Baby
(WEG)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.